Wheel speed sensor for remote installation

Abstract

A sensor assembly for installation between an axle shaft and axle tube includes a roller bearing held coaxially to a sensor ring by a clutch member that is released when the shaft is turned after installation.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A speed sensor assembly adapted to be installed between a stationary housing having a cylindrical inner surface and a rotatable shaft disposed coaxially within said housing surface, comprising, a generally cylindrical sensor ring having an interior surface sized to press fit non-turnably over said shaft and an exterior surface including a camming slot having a predetermined radial depth,   a generally cylindrical mounting sleeve sized to press fit non-turnably within said housing cylindrical surface, and,   an overcenter clutch member carried by said mounting sleeve which is shiftable from a first stable position in which it protrudes into said camming slot to a second stable position in which it rests clear of said slot when radially forced from said first stable position by said predetermined amount, said clutch member further being substantially inflexible in the axial direction,   whereby said sensor ring and mounting sleeve are retained together by said clutch member as a unit that can be installed by pushing said mounting sleeve into said housing cylindrical surface and by pushing said sensor ring over said shaft, by virtue of the axial inflexibility of said clutch member, after which said sensor ring may be freed from said mounting sleeve by turning said shaft and sensor ring, thereby forcing said camming slot into said clutch member and shifting it radially to said second stable position.   
     
     
       2. A speed sensor assembly adapted to be installed between a stationary housing having a cylindrical inner surface and a rotatable shaft disposed coaxially within said housing surface, comprising, a generally cylindrical sensor ring having an interior surface sized to press fit non-turnably over said shaft and an exterior surface including a camming slot having a predetermined radial depth,   a rolling element bearing having a generally cylindrical bearing race sized to press fit non-turnably within said housing cylindrical surface and thereby rotatably support said shaft within said housing, and,   an overcenter clutch member carried by said bearing race which is shiftable from a first stable position in which it protrudes into said camming slot to a second stable position in which it rests clear of said slot when radially forced from said first stable position by said predetermined amount, said clutch member further being substantially inflexible in the axial direction,   whereby said sensor ring and bearing are retained together by said clutch member as a unit that can be installed by pushing said bearing race into said housing cylindrical surface and by pushing said sensor ring over said shaft, by virtue of the axial inflexibility of said clutch member, after which said sensor ring may be freed from said bearing race by turning said shaft and sensor ring, thereby forcing said camming slot into said clutch member and shifting it radially to said second stable position.   
     
     
       3. A speed sensor assembly adapted to be installed between a stationary housing having a cylindrical inner surface and a rotatable shaft disposed coaxially within said housing surface, comprising, a generally cylindrical sensor ring having an interior surface sized to press fit non-turnably over said shaft and an exterior surface including at least a pair of substantially diametrically opposed camming slots having a predetermined radial depth,   a generally cylindrical mounting sleeve having a larger diameter portion sized to press fit non-turnably within said housing cylindrical surface and a smaller diameter portion extending axially over said sensor ring camming slot,   a pair of substantially diametrically opposed overcenter clutch fingers extending radially from said mounting sleeve smaller diameter portion, each of which is shiftable from a first stable position in which it protrudes into said camming slot to a second stable position in which it rests clear of said slot when radially forced from said first stable position by said predetermined amount, said clutch fingers further being substantially inflexible in the axial direction,   whereby said sensor ring and mounting sleeve are retained together in substantially coaxial relation by said clutch fingers as a unit that can be installed by pushing said larger diameter mounting sleeve portion into said housing cylindrical surface and by pushing said sensor ring over said shaft, by virtue of the axial inflexibility of said clutch fingers, after which said sensor ring may be freed from said mounting sleeve by turning said shaft and sensor ring, thereby forcing said camming slots into said clutch fingers and shifting them radially to said second stable position.